Neoregelia plant named ‘Goddess’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Neoregelia  plant named ‘Goddess’, characterized by its broad and outwardly arching growth habit; leaves that are outwardly arching and recurved; glossy leaves that are greyed yellow in color with distinct medium and dark green-colored longitudinal stripes, dark green-colored margins and purplish red-colored apices; upper (younger) leaves are mostly purplish red in color; flower development is not required for purplish red color development; and good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Neoregelia carolinae X (Neoregelia hybrida‘Passion’ X Neoregelia hybrida ‘Grace’).

Cultivar denomination: ‘GODDESS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofNeoregelia plant, botanically known as Neoregelia carolinae X(Neoregelia hybrida ‘Passion’ X Neoregelia hybrida ‘Grace’), andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Goddess’.

The new Neoregelia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Princeton, Fla. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new Neoregelia plants with uniquelycolored leaves.

The new Neoregelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in 2009 in Princeton, Fla. of an unnamed proprietary selectionof Neoregelia carolinae, not patented, as the female, or seed, parentwith an unnamed proprietary selection of Neoregelia hybrida ‘Passion’ XNeoregelia hybrida ‘Grace’, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Neoregelia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Princeton,Fla. in 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Neoregelia plant by offsets in acontrolled environment in Princeton, Fla. since 2010, has shown that theunique features of this new Neoregelia plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Neoregelia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Goddess’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Goddess’ as a new and distinct Neoregeliaplant:

-   -   1. Broad and outwardly arching growth habit.    -   2. Leaves that are arching and recurved.    -   3. Glossy leaves that are greyed yellow in color with distinct        medium and dark green-colored longitudinal stripes, dark        green-colored margins and purplish red-colored apices; upper        (younger) leaves are mostly purplish red in color; flower        development is not required for purplish red color development.    -   4. Good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia have stable        variegation whereas leaves of plants of the female parent        selection do not have stable variegation.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia develop purplish red        coloration without flower development whereas flowering is        required for orange coloration to develop on leaves of plants of        the female parent selection.    -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia are more durable and        resistant to abrasions and physical damage than leaves of plants        of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia begin to develop        purplish red coloration a few months after planting whereas        leaves of plants of the male parent selection begin to develop        purplish red coloration twelve or more months after planting.    -   2. Plants of the new Neoregelia and the male parent selection        differ in leaf color as plants of the new Neoregelia are greyed        yellow in color with distinct medium and dark green-colored        longitudinal stripes, dark green-colored margins and purplish        red-colored apices whereas leaves of plants of the male parent        selection are solid green in color.

Plants of the new Neoregelia can be compared to plants of the Neoregeliacarolinae X Neoregelia meyendorfii ‘Venus’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 27,211. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Neoregeliaand ‘Venus’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia develop red purple        coloration earlier than and without flower development whereas        flowering is required for coloration to develop on leaves of        plants of ‘Venus’.    -   2. Plants of the new Neoregelia and ‘Venus’ differ in leaf color        as plants of the new Neoregelia are greyed yellow in color with        distinct medium and dark green-colored longitudinal stripes,        dark green-colored margins and deep red-colored apices whereas        leaves of plants of ‘Venus’ are cream in color with distinct        medium green-colored stripes and dark-green margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Neoregelia plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Neoregelia plant. The photograph is a top perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Goddess’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe flowering plants grown during the spring in 15-cmcontainers in a polypropylene-covered greenhouse in Princeton, Fla. andunder cultural practices typical of commercial Neoregelia production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 28° C.to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C. and lightlevels averaged 2,500 foot-candles. Plants were twelve months old whenthe photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Neoregelia carolinae X (Neoregelia hybrida    ‘Passion’ X Neoregelia hybrida ‘Grace’) ‘Goddess’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Neoregelia carolinae, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Neoregelia hybrida ‘Passion’ X Neoregelia hybrida ‘Grace’,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By offsets.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 days at ambient            temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 40 days at ambient            temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            months at ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            months at ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 22° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            beige to brown in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broad and outwardly arching growth            habit; leaves in rosettes; plants readily produce uniform            offsets; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 13 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 50.5 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 2 mm.        -   Stem diameter at the soil level.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Stem texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Stem color.—Close to NN155A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette, spiral phyllotaxis; simple; sessile,            clasping.        -   Shape.—Narrowly oblong with broad sheathing base.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate to short aristate.        -   Base.—Truncate, clasping.        -   Margin.—Serrate, spinose.        -   Length.—About 36 cm.        -   Width, mid-section.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Width, widest part towards the base, flattened.—About 7.75            cm.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; leathery; narrowly and longitudinally ribbed;            glossy, shiny.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Upper (younger) leaves, upper surface: Distally,            close to between 53A and 58A and proximally, close to N155B;            venation, similar to lamina colors. Upper (younger) leaves,            lower surface: Distally, close to 58A and proximally, close            to N155B; venation, similar to lamina colors. Lower (older)            leaves, upper surface: Centers: Close to 160B and 160C.            Longitudinal stripes: Close to 146A, 147A and NN137A.            Margins: Close to 147A and NN137A. Towards the apex: Close            to between 53A and 58A; younger leaves have more red            coloration than older leaves; oldest leaves may have little            to no red coloration. Towards the base: Close to 160C to            160D, slightly and variably tinged with close to 148B.            Venation: Similar to lamina colors. Lower (older) leaves,            lower surface: Centers: Close to 160D. Longitudinal stripes:            Close to 144A, 146A, 147A and NN137A. Margins: Close to 147A            and NN137A. Towards the apex: Close to 58A; younger leaves            have more red coloration than older leaves; oldest leaves            may have little to no red coloration. Towards the base:            Close to 146D. Venation: Similar to lamina colors.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence form.—Terminal flat-topped compact corymb            located inside the leaf rosette; about 132 flowers develop            per inflorescence.        -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 60 to 70 days            weeks after planting; plants flower naturally during the            spring in Florida.        -   Flower longevity.—Dependent on temperature, individual            flowers last about four to six days on the plant; flowers            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 8 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.75 cm.        -   Flower size.—Length: About 6.25 cm. Diameter: About 7.5 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl; lower            75% of the petals are fused. Shape, free part: Lanceolate.            Apex: Sharply acuminate. Margin: Entire. Length: About            3.5 cm. Width at base of free part: About 5 mm. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly            glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper (inner)            surface: Distally, close to 93D and proximally, close to            NN155D. When opening and fully opened, lower (outer)            surface: Distally, close to 93C and proximally, close to            NN155D.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: One. Shape: Narrowly            lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: About            3.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Membranous and translucent; slightly glossy.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; towards            the apex, close to 144A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl; lower            50% of the sepals are fused. Shape: Narrowly lanceolate.            Apex: Acuminate. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 3.5 mm.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Free part, close to between 144A and 146A and            fused part, close to NN155D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.            Strength: Strong, sturdy. Aspect: Typically erect. Texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to            NN155D.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm by            3.5 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Depending on            position in the inflorescence, typically erect to outwardly            and curving upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            glossy. Color: Close to 155A.        -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Six. Filament length: About 1            cm; partially adnate to the petals. Filament color: Close to            NN155D. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About            2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 158C. Pollen amount: None            observed.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            2 cm. Stigma shape: Elongated oblong. Stigma color: Close to            157C. Style length: About 1.5 cm. Style color: Close to            NN155D. Ovary color: Close to 155A to 155B.        -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed production have            not been observed on plants of the new Neoregelia.-   Interior & garden performance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have    been observed to have good postproduction longevity under interior    conditions, to have good garden performance and to tolerate    temperatures ranging from 2° C. to 37° C.-   Pathogen & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Neoregelia are    relatively tolerant to Pythium (Pythium spp.) and Phytophtora    (Phytophtora cinnamoni). To date, tolerance to pests and other    pathogens common to Neoregelia plants has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Neoregelia plant named ‘Goddess’ asillustrated and described.